In this before and after image, Larry Grossman reveals how he creates his amazing images: “the top is my original photo, the bottom obviously an archival shot. Aside from the fact I had to create a lobby (there is no longer a central box office), you can see how much work I put into ‘restoring’ the marquee and sign back to its original look, plus I had to guess at the colors.”

Cinema Treasures is featuring the beautiful work of artist/photographer Larry Grossman throughout this week. Today, we begin with an introduction to Grossman’s work and artistic process. During the rest of the week, we’ll also be showing several pieces of Grossman’s work each day, as well as an interview with the artist.

The “Movie Palace” series is a collection of images of vintage Movie Theaters created by artist/photographer Larry Grossman. These images depict classic theaters and their environments, as they looked in their “Golden Age”.

“I begin each image by shooting a photograph of the theater (note my original Pantages photo next to the completed Pantages image). To ‘transport’ the theaters back in time to their ‘heyday’, I digitally remove all contemporary items such as cars, signs, parking meters, streetlights, and stores from the photos.

GARY, IN — According to a report from the Indianapolis Star, Lalosa Burns, spokesperson for the City of Gary, is reporting that City of Gary will be taking bids to demolish the Palace Theater sometime this year.

As local preservationist Erica Davis put it: “It would be a very good venue for a performing arts center or theater. It would take a lot of work. Unfortunately, the city of Gary has the sad tendency to demolish rather than restore.”

In my own opinion, judging from the fact that most of Gary is heavily gang and drug infested, and decaying at the same rate as the unfortunate Palace Theater, I hold little hope of anything being done to save this theater.

DETROIT, MI — The Norwest 1 & 2 was torn down this week to make way for two new fast food restaurants, according to the Detroit Free Press. One man comments in the piece, “You used to be able to walk to get your groceries and walk for a movie. But every piece of good is being torn down for fast food and strip malls. It’s just disappointing.”

The Norwest Theater opened in 1936, was twinned in the 1980s and closed in 2000. As Thomasina Aquinas notes, there is a picture of the half-demolished Norwest at www.detroityes.com.

BAKER CITY, OR — A state building code that requires sprinklers in all three auditoria of the Eltrym Theatre may force its closure, according to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. In response to the impending order, over 1,200 signatures have been collected to save it.

Opened in 1940, the Art Deco Eltrym is now a 3-screen movie house and the only movie theater in Baker County. It was restored in 1997.

ORANGE, CA — On Sunday August 29th, the Orange County Cavy Haven will hold its 2nd fundraising rummage sale at the Orange Drive-In. New and used donated goods including furniture, clothing, sporting goods and electronics will be available and 100% of funds raised will go directly to help rescue animals in need.

Please come and shop. The booth will be open from 6am-3pm @ 291 N State College Blvd Orange, CA 92868-1703. For more information on our rescue or to find out how to help: www.cavyhaven.org.